Aschau - Murmelland Bike Climb | Cycling Tirol, Austria

Austria Aschau - Murmelland

Aschau - Murmelland Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

39.4

PDI

6.3 mi

DISTANCE

4,019 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

12.2 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

We loved this area. Aschau im Zillertal sits in one of the least-known great climbing zones in the Alps, a quaint Tirolean village that serves as the base for four Top World Climbs, including this one. Murmelland (the name translates roughly to "marmot land," a fitting nod to the alpine terrain above the treeline) climbs about 6.3 miles from the village, gaining 4,019 feet at a punishing 12.2% average grade - genuinely steep even by Zillertal standards, where every climb out of this valley seems to be a wall. The road is paved the entire way and passes the Berggasthof Platzlalm partway up, a mountain inn that's a natural spot to catch your breath before finishing the upper pitches. It's popular with both locals and touring cyclists, and the payoff at the summit is a wide panorama over the surrounding Zillertal peaks that's earned this whole zone a reputation as one of the most scenic (if under-visited) climbing areas in Austria. If you have time for more than one climb in the area, Aschau also serves as the starting point for Melchboden, Zirmstadl, and Mitterbach, among others - worth a look with our Routes in the Area tool if you're planning a multi-day trip through the Zillertal.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route.

At 12.2% average over 6.3 miles, this is one of the steeper climbs in a valley full of steep climbs - there's no meaningful flat section to recover on anywhere along the route. Expect the grade to stay in double digits for most of the climb, with the steepest pitches concentrated in the upper half above the Berggasthof Platzlalm, where the road pushes into the high-teens in short stretches as it works toward the treeline. Pace conservatively from the base; there's little room to make up time later if you go out too hard on the lower slopes.

Roadway: Paved the entire way, in good condition, winding up through forest and alpine pasture past the Berggasthof Platzlalm. No current closures or construction were found for this road.

Traffic: A quiet valley road popular with local cyclists and touring riders alike, but not a through route, so motor traffic is light overall.

Parking: Park in the village of Aschau im Zillertal, near the intersection of Dorfstraße and Hohenstraße where the climb begins - there's no separate lot for the climb itself.

Come with compact gearing and a wide-range cassette - sustained double-digit grades with no real flat sections make this climb harder than its modest length suggests. Water and simple food are available partway up at the Berggasthof Platzlalm, but confirm it's open before counting on it as your only stop. Weather at this altitude can shift quickly even on a warm valley morning, so pack a light layer for the upper, more exposed sections near the summit.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.

Base yourself in Aschau im Zillertal or nearby Zell am Ziller, a charming Tirolean town well set up for a multi-day cycling trip. This whole area is dense with demanding climbs - Melchboden, Zirmstadl, and Mitterbach all also start from Aschau - so it's worth planning more than one day here rather than treating Murmelland as a single stop. Because conditions can change quickly between the valley floor and the exposed upper slopes near the summit, it's worth checking both with our Weather tool before you head out.